Karun Nair's unbeaten 186 against Lions pushes India Test case

London: India batter Karun Nair pushed his case for a Test recall against England by scoring 186 not out for India A on day one of the first unofficial Test against England Lions.

The 33-year-old famously scored 303 not out against England in Chennai in 2016, only to be dropped three Tests later after six matches.

Nair, who has played county cricket for Northamptonshire since his last international, has been included in India's squad for the upcoming Test series and dominated a youthful bowling attack in Canterbury.

The right-hander was dropped on 89 and 134, but put on 181 with Sarfaraz Khan and 177 unbroken with Dhruv Jurel on Friday.

Sarfaraz, a surprise omission from India's Test squad, made 92 and Jurel, who was included, ended the day on 82 not out. Test opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was caught behind off 19-year-old Hampshire seamer Eddie Jack for 24.

The pick of the Lions bowlers was left-armer Josh Hull, who made his England debut in the third Test against Sri Lanka last year, the BBC reported.

He had India A skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran lbw for eight and Sarfaraz caught down the leg side.

The four-day match continues on Saturday and is followed by a second unofficial Test from June 6 in Northampton.

England all-rounder Chris Woakes and new India Test skipper Shubman Gill are in the respective squads for the second match as they prepare for the highly anticipated five-Test series which begins on June 20 at Headingley.